This Week in Sustainability 1.30.12

If you are interested in having an event sent out over the listserv, please send an email with the title, time, date, location and description to susevent@indiana.edu by the Saturday evening before your event occurs.

Upcoming Events:

Tuesday, January 31
Info Session for the Summer 2012 Internship Program in Sustainability
When: 6:00 – 7:00 PM
Where: E-House, the new home of the IU Office of Sustainability, 704 E 10th St
Description: Today we begin accepting applications for our sixth summer internship class, and we want to give you an opportunity to learn more about the program and the application process. We’ll be holding an info session this Tuesday, January 31st from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. at E-House, the new headquarters for the IU Office of Sustainability. Please join us for snacks from Bloomingfoods and to discuss:
-Sustainability 101: What is the Office of Sustainability’s mission on campus, and how are students interns critical to our success?
-Internship Projects: Sustainability interns take big ideas and work with campus and community stakeholders to make them a reality. Learn about summer projects like the Big Red Eats Green Fall Festival, our second annual celebration of restaurants and market venders who supply us with delicious local food, or the Bicycle Friendly Campus Initiative, a new steering committee aimed making biking easier and safer for our community.
–A Day in the Life of an Intern: Former and current interns will be on hand to discuss their experiences in the program and answer questions.
-Application tips: IUOS staff will share suggestions for how to improve your application. A PDF version of the application (without position descriptions) is available for download here, and you can learn more about the program and application here. Check them out before the session, and come prepared with questions!
Click here to register! Questions may be directed to Emilie Rex at ekrex@indiana.edu.

Wednesday, February 1
Whether to Weather Workshops for IU Students
When: 4:00 PM
Where: E-House, the new home of the IU Office of Sustainability, 704 E 10th St
Description: Tired of cold winter weather and high energy bills? Want to do something about it? Participate in a FREE winter weatherization workshop for IU students! You’ll get the opportunity to:
– Learn how to weatherize your home to make it more energy efficient
– Enjoy tasty snacks from Bloomingfoods
– Take home a weatherization kit that includes materials for weatherizing your own home, including: weatherstripping, insulation for light switches and electrical outlets, rope caulk, and compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)

Saturday, February 4
Free Electronics Recycling Program
When: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Where: The Sanitation Garage, 3406 South Walnut St., just north of the City of Bloomington Animal Shelter
Description: The City of Bloomington Sanitation Department, in partnership with Vintage Tech Recyclers, will host its second Electronics Recycling Program, during which the City invites residents of Bloomington and surrounding communities to dispose of unwanted electronics for recycling. The following items will be accepted: computers, laptops, monitors, LCDs, cell phones, printers, scanners, modems, cables, televisions, VCR’s, DVD players, camcorders, cameras, gaming systems, telephones, pagers, answering machines, typewriters, calculators, fax machines, copiers and postage meters. All items collected are recycled according to R2 and BAN standards, and hard drives will be wiped or destroyed using the same standards. For more information, please contact the Sanitation Department at 349-3443 or read more online at www.bloomington.in.gov/sanitation.

Tuesday, February 7

US Green Building Council Students Call-Out Meeting
When: 7:30 PM
Where: E-House, 704 E. 10th St.
Description:
Looking for a way to get more involved with sustainability at IU? US Green Building Council (USGBC) Students invites you to become a founding member of their brand new chapter at Indiana University. Build your resume and make professional connections while learning about LEED projects on the Bloomington campus. Come learn about this new student group while enjoying pizza with students from all disciplines interested in greening our campus. Find out more about this up and coming organization at http://centerforgreenschools.org/usgbcstudents. Contact ranoyes@indiana.edu or wroyal@indiana.edu for questions or more information. We look forward to seeing you there!

Emerald Ash Borer Public Meeting
When: 1:30 PM or 7:00 PM
Where: Vigo County Public Library
Description: The Emerald Ash Borer kills tree and is now active in the Wabash Valley. Come learn and discuss the options for dealing with the EAB. Speakers include Ft. Wayne Forester Chad Tinkel (will discuss why it is important to have a plan in place), Arborjet representative Rob Gorden from Woburn, MA (will talk about treating trees with a bi-annual vaccine), and Terre Haute City Engineer Chuck Ennis . All are welcome at either meeting time.

Saturday, February 18
The Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Bike Ride
When: 10:00 AM
Where: Meet in front of City Hall
Description: Neither rain nor sleet nor snow nor roving bands of zombies will keep us from the streets during Bloomington’s first annual Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Bike Ride. The 5-mile ride will traverse urban cycling routes around Bloomington to prove that it’s possible to bike in all kinds of weather. Intended for both the fearful and the fearless. If you can ride on this day, you can ride any day. Contact sustain@bloomington.in.gov or call 349.3837 for more information, and join the event on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/events/176985722408855/.

Wednesday, February 22
Student Sustainability Council General Assembly Meeting
When: 6:00 PM
Where: E-House, 704 E 10th St
Description: SSC General Assembly meetings are open to all students, but those wishing to have voting rights must petition for membership as a representative of a student organization. Those interested in petitioning may contact Stephanie @ stehopki@indiana.edu. Remaining meeting dates this semester are 3/21, 4/4, & 4/25, all at 6:00 PM.

News, ongoing events, and opportunities:

Apply to the IU Summer Internship Program in Sustainability – due 2/17
Looking for an intellectually engaging, creatively stimulating, fun, challenging internship that will build your professional skill set? Interested in social, economic, and environmental issues and their intersection on our campus? Apply to the Summer 2012 Internship Program in Sustainability! This summer’s program will run from May 14, 2012 to August 3, 2012, and interns are expected to work approximately 20 hours/week in addition to attending a weekly seminar. Students interested in applying may visit http://www.indiana.edu/~sustain/Intern/apply.html for more information about the program, this year’s position descriptions, and link to application. Applications are due on Friday, February 17th. Additional questions and comments can be directed to sustain@indiana.edu.

Applications for IU at Oxford Environmental Policy Summer Program Due Tuesday, February 14
The 2012 IU at Oxford Environmental Policy Summer Program is still accepting applications through Tuesday, February 14. Students will visit Brussels, London, Cambridge, and Oxford to learn from the European perspective on environmental protection under the direction of Dr. Kenneth Richards of SPEA and world-renowned environmental policy experts. Please visit www.spea.indiana.edu/IUatOxford or email Stephanie Hayes Richards at steprich@indiana.edu for more information.

Bloomington Winter Farmers Market
Saturdays, 9am to noon, Harmony School (909 East 2nd Street)
The Bloomington Winter Farmers Market is a great opportunity to buy directly from local growers during the winter months. Our cozy indoor market features local products, live music, and a wonderful community. Join us for breakfast and buy local produce, meats, baked goods, dairy, and more! The market is open throughout the winter until March 31, 2012.

Call for Entries – Trashion Refashion Show
The 2012 Trashion Refashion Show is looking for fashion designs from the following categories:Trashion is the result of creatively turning discarded items into fashion.Refashion is the result of modifying existing clothing into something more fashionable.
Up to 3 entries, in any combination of categories, may be submitted per designer or team. Submissions are due on March 1, 2012. The show itself will take place on April 22nd at the Buskirk Chumley Theater at 7pm. Instructions for submission are available at http://www.bloomingtontrashion.org/.

Permaculture interns sought for Bread & Roses Gardens
Bread & Roses Gardens is a woodland homestead in Will Holler, on the south side of Lake Monroe, 10 miles south of Bloomington in the heart of Hoosier National Forest. Certified Permaculture Designer Salem Willard founded Bread & Roses in January of 2011 to create a thriving example of sustainable living. Interns will be asked to commit to a minimum of 4~6 hours/week. Ideally interns will be able to join us throughout the growing season (March~October), however seasonal positions will be considered. In addition to cerebral and kinesthetic learning at B&R Gardens, we will naturally send helpers home with handfuls of hearty goods to feed their hearts and hungry stomachs. We are more than willing to negotiate hosting independent learning projects for credit through the University. Visit http://www.breadandrosesgardens.com/index.html to learn more about Bread & Roses. Click here to download PDF flier with more information about the internships.

Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard’s Garden Education Program seeks garden interns for the 2012 growing season – applications due 2/10
MHC’s Community Garden program provides garden fresh nutrient dense food to the low-income community served by the pantry while also providing educational experiences for MHC’s patrons, volunteers, and the community at large. Interns will work closely with staff and volunteers, and are required to help plan, plant, and tend the garden site at which they are placed. Positions are available in three gardens with 4 potential opportunities involving youth garden programming and hoophouse management. Interns learn while gardening using a dynamic mixture of sustainable techniques, including Permaculture, Biointensive, and Biodynamic growing methods. This opportunity includes instruction with an openness to the interests of the intern. This position is unpaid. To apply for a 2012 Garden internship position please send a resume and cover letter to Stephanie Solomon at stephanie@mhcfoodpantry.org by Friday, February 10th at 5pm. Questions, or wanting more information? Email us or call 355.6843.

Opportunities with Pick Up America
Pick Up America is looking for people to travel with us this year! In 2012, we will be completing our three year coast-to-coast roadside litter pick-up by walking from Colorado to the California coast. We are seeking young, energetic leaders who are ready to hit the road, pick up litter, and organize for a more sustainable America. We are a one-of-a-kind traveling nonprofit crew aiming to connect with one-of-a-kind individuals. An ideal candidate would be self-motivated, know how to be a team player, and be eager to educate, strategize, network, and inspire resource stewardship and zero-waste in America. Visit http://pickupamerica.org/connect to find all the details about the available positions.

Green Corps Now Accepting Applications
Green Corps is looking for college graduates who are ready to take on the biggest environmental challenges of our day. In Green Corps’ year-long paid program, you’ll get intensive training in the skills you’ll need to make a difference in the world. You’ll get hands-on experience fighting to solve urgent environmental problems — global warming, deforestation, water pollution and many others — with groups such as Sierra Club and Food and Water Watch. And, when you graduate from Green Corps, we’ll help you find a career with one of the nation’s leading environmental and social change groups. In the next few months, we‘ll invite 35 college graduates to join Green Corps in 2012-2013. We’re looking for people who are serious about saving the planet, people who have taken initiative on their campus or community, and people who are willing to roll up their sleeves and work for change over the long haul. If you think you’re one of those people, visit http://www.greencorps.org/apply to submit your application to join the 2012-2013 class of Green Corps’ Field School for Environmental Organizing. Green Corps’ year-long program begins in August 2012 with Introductory Classroom Training in Boston, and continues with field placements in multiple locations across the U.S. Candidates must be willing to relocate. For more information, visit www.greencorps.org or contact Aaron Myran, Green Corps Recruitment Director, at aaron@greencorps.org or 617.747.4302.

FoodCorps Opens Applications for its Next Class of School Food Changemakers
FoodCorps, a national organization that addresses childhood obesity and food insecurity in underserved communities, is now accepting applications for its second annual class of service members. The selected emerging leaders will dedicate one year of full-time public service in school food systems – expanding hands-on nutrition education programs, building and tending school gardens, and sourcing fresh, healthy, local food for school cafeterias. FoodCorps seeks up to 100 men and women with a passion for serving their country as AmeriCorps service members by building healthy communities in 12 states around the country. Emerging leaders interested in getting more information should visit http://foodcorps.org/become-a-service-member.

Downtown Bloomington Recycling Center Now Open for Business
A new recycling center has opened downtown in the parking lot behind the Showers Building on 10th Street. The center is part of a collaboration of the City of Bloomington, Monroe County Solid Waste Management District and Pedal Power owner Chad Roeder to make recycling more sustainable and accessible to downtown residents.
The recycling center is open Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Materials accepted at the center include:

All materials must be free from food contamination, and paper and cardboard products must be dry. The center does not currently accept hazardous materials such as paint, aerosols, poisons or batteries, but these items may be taken to the Monroe County Recycling Center at 3400 S. Walnut Street. Visit their facebook page or website for more information. For further questions about the recycling center downtown call Chad Roeder at 325-2777.

Got aquarium?
Moving out and can’t take your aquarium pets with you? Don’t dump them in the lake or into local waterways! Many aquarium plants and animals are non-native species that can wreak havoc on our local environment. Contact the Bloomington Animal Shelter at (812) 349-3492 or the Monroe County Humane Association at (812) 335-9453.

Sign a petition for local transit funding referenda
Bloomington Transportation Options for People (B-TOP) has passed a resolution supporting a petition from the Central Indiana Regional Transit Authority calling for dedicated funding for transportation. To read and sign the petition, visit http://www.cirta.us/. Also, if you are involved in an organization that may want to pass a resolution, the coalition is looking for more supporting organizations to sign on.

Common Circle Education announces cross-country bike trip & permaculture design course
This three-month intensive course combines our Urban Permaculture and Regenerative Leadership Certificate training, followed by a Wilderness First Aid training before we head on the road cycling from Eugene, Oregon all the way across America to Washington DC (we’ll be roughly following the
TransAM bike route – about 4200 miles), promoting and learning about sustainable living and intentional communities. Program takes place between June 1 – August 31, 2012 and is designed for beginner to intermediate cyclists. More details @ http://commoncircle.com/cross-country-bicycle-tour.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore Seeks Volunteers
As a volunteer run organization, the ReStore has made great strides this past year, such as sponsoring an energy star rated Habitat home as well as diverting over 228 tons of goods from the landfill. With your help, we can go further. At the heart of the Habitat ReStore’s operating philosophy is a sense for the green and the hope that we can create a more sustainable community in Bloomington. With daily volunteer opportunities available, this is a great way to make a direct impact in your community. Contact Bruce Murray at 331-2660 or murray@monroecountyhabitat.org for more information about how you can help!

Winter Thermostat Settings – a message from the IU Physical Plant
Cold weather is here, so please set down the thermostats to the winter set point of 68 degrees for classrooms, offices, hallways, lounges and general rooms (excluding labs with critical temperature requirements). Set points can be slightly higher for rooms that have window, ventilation or other comfort problems. Vestibules should be set at 60 degrees. The thermostats that control cooling only units should be left at 78 degrees.
Please contact the Operations Dispatchers to have Work Request initiated for each building involved with this work. These Work Requests will be part of Project No. 2012. If these set points cause problems for particular rooms please contact Doug Trueblood (rtrueblo@indiana.edu). Thank you for the many ways you continue to help us keep our energy cost down as much as possible.

Green Acres Neighborhood Ecovillage
Want to grow sustainable community right here in Bloomington? Our “retrofit cohousing” ecovillage offers sustainability-related events, community potlucks, music jams, and much more. Come learn with us (even if you don’t live in the neighborhood) and make new friends. We welcome folks of all ages who are attracted to our vision. Learn more at www.ganecovillage.org/vision-and-values. To get involved, join our email list by sending a blank email to: green-acres-neighborhood-ecovillage+subscribe@googlegroups.com.

Monroe County Pharmaceutical Disposal Program
The Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office this week announced a new effort to collect and properly dispose of unused, unwanted or expired pharmaceutical drugs and controlled substances in order to reduce the risk of illegal diversion, drug abuse, overdose, and environmental risks resulting from improper disposal. For more information visit http://www.co.monroe.in.us/prosecutor and follow the link to the Monroe County Pharmaceutical Safe Disposal Program, or call 349-DRUG.

Take the Pledge – Go Phosphorus Free!
Clear Choices for Clean Water is a campaign to increase awareness about lawn care and its impact on our streams and lakes. Water quality friendly lawn care includes practices such as using phosphorus-free fertilizer, landscaping with native plants, managing yard and pet wastes, and overall lawn reform. Click here to take the pledge: http://www.clearchoicescleanwater.org/

Student Conservation Association Internships
The SCA is one of the biggest partners for national parks and forests. Each year, they send thousands of youth across the country to get conservation experience in awesome places. Living expenses, housing, and round trip travel provided. Internships run from 3-12 months and are available in all 50 states. See http://thesca.org/serve/internships for more information and to appl

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The Edible Campus Steering Committee is hosting the first of this year’s weekly workdays at the Hilltop Garden Project this Friday, February 17, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Volunteers will share in the eventual harvest. For more information, contact: edible@indiana.edu.